May 15, 2008

Arrivederci

To celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary, we didn't have a party, we didn't buy cards, we didn't buy presents. Instead we're sending them on vacation to a place my mother has always wanted to see: Italian City of Canals and Gondolas.

Three of their daughters are going along to help make sure the vacation runs smoothly. Urban Sophisticate Sister is an experienced traveler who is good at getting anyone to do what she wants, even when they don't speak her language. Red-haired Sister, who has also traveled quite a bit, always takes care of everyone around her, which makes her an important addition to the trip. And me? My role is to make my father feel gleeful that someone else gets motion sickness worse than he does.

Our adventure begins today, with a trip to the Big City Like No Other area, where we will meet up with Red-haired Sister and Urban Sophisticate before getting on a plane together to fly over the ocean. I'll be taking photos and keeping a journal, and I should have all kinds of stories when I return.

ENJOY!! I LOVED that city, LOVED. Make sure you spend time listening to the dueling musicians at the famous plaza in the evening. And get ready to get lost. A lot. That city is a MAZE, a labyrinth, really.

But I love it anyway. It's beautiful, wonderful. I hope you get good weather, bright, sunshiny, blue-skied days. Sunsets are beautiful when viewed from the Vaporetto coming from Lido beach back to the city.

Wonderful... I hope your mom and dad love it and that everyone has fun. It won't be very easy for you to eat there... I eat dairy moderately, so it was OK for me. Well, you can always have only red sauce on your pasta, or vegetables! ;-)

OK, I'm speaking too much, it's just that I love traveling so much, and Italy in particular. Can't wait to hear your impressions!